Fastening device.



W. G. &: H. HARRIS.

FASTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUN-12,1913.

Pa tented Apr. 7,19%

COLUMBIA PPANOORAPH CO.,WASHINOTON, 11.4:v

ANT @FFlfiE.

FASTENING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM Gnonen HARnIs and HARRY HARRIS, subjects of the King of England, residing at? Gharterhouse street, London, E. (1, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Fastening Devices, of which .the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clips, buckles, or similar devices for use in fastening or tightening a strap, belt, or like attaching means, and relates more particularly to that type of device wherein two members with transverse slots are movable relatively to each other for the purpose of gripping a strap or the like when passed between the slots.

To this end the invention particularly consists of a casing formed of an upper and a lower plate with transverse slots registering with each other, the slot in the upper plate being wider than the slot in the lower plate, and a flat locking plate freely slidable between the upper and lower plates and having a transverse slot which when in its rear position is in register with the slots in both plates but when in its forward looking position is only in register with the slot in the upper plate, the arrangement being such that upon the insertion of a strap, belt or the like the movable member is displaced by the contact with the strap so that its slot comes into register with the slot in the lower plate. Through these slots the strap or belt or the like is then inserted and on subsequently exert-ing a pull on the strap or belt, the sliding plate is automatically drawn forward so that the strap or belt is firmly gripped between the edges of the slots in the sliding and lower plates and the more the strap or belt is pulled in this particular direction the tighter is the grip eX- erted thereon, as will be more fully understood from a description of the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 illustrates by way of example the use of the improved clip for a watch strap bracelet. Fig. Qis an enlarged sectional view on the line A-B of Fig. 1, of one of the clips or fastening devices showing the parts in normal position, i. 6. prior to the insertion of the strap, of which the bracelet con sists, in the direction of the arrow 2. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in the position which they assume upon the insertion of the end of the strap in the direction of the arrow 3. Fig. 4 is Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 2, 1913.

Patented Apr. '7, i914.

Serial No. 771,288.

a view similar to Figs. 2 and 8, showing the parts in thelr grlpping position which they assume on the strap being pulled in the direction of the arrow 4;, and Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the clips with the upper plate partly broken away, and showing the movable plate or slide also partly broken so as to clearly show the position of the lower plate within a casing which is indicated in section.

In the example illustrated in the drawing, the fastener a consists of a casing Z) which by means of a hinge 0 or in some other convenient manner is attached to suitable lugs of a watch, if it is desired to use the fastener for the attachment of a watch bracelet as shown. The top or cover plate d of this casing is provided with a slot 6 confined at its forward edge by a narrow preferably raised ledge or cross piece f, this slot being of such width that in any position of the sliding plate it registers with the slot therein. At its front face the casing Z) is provided with a slot 9 serving for the insertion of the edge or end of the strap or belt or like means it to be secured by the fastener. Arranged within the casing b and formed integral therewith is a plate 2' which is provided with a transverse slot j. Said plate 71 forms a recess with the bottom wall of the casing, and said recess is adapted to receive the free end of the inserted strap, as shown in Figs. 3 and i. Located immediately above the plate 2' and guided thereon is a movable plate or slide is provided with a transverse slot Z. The slide 70 has its longitudinal edges guided by the adjacent longitudinal walls of the casing, but in order to enable it to be longitudinally moved within the casing it is of course slightly shorter than the casing as shown, so that a play space is formed substantially equal to the width of the slot Z. This slide is moreover, is guided and confined by the upper plate (Z, while its thickness is so chosen that, as indicated particularly in Fig. 2, its forward top edge lies slightly above the bottom edge of the slot 9 through which the strap h is inserted.

Normally that is to say, before the insertion of the strap, the parts may be in any desired position, for instance in that shown in Fig. 2, in which the slot Z in the slide 7:: lies forward of the slot 3' in the stationary member 2'. Now by inserting the edge of the strap 7a through the slot 9 in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 2 the slide 70 is displaced, that is to say, is forced back, by the edge of the strap thereby assuming the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the slots Z and j register .with one another. In this position the slide 70 is held by the body of the strap and the edge of the latter is now inserted through the registering slots Z, j so as to pass beneath the transverse edge of the lower plate 2' into the compartment formed between it and the bottom of the casing (Z. By then exerting a pull on the strap it in the direction of the arrow 4;, as indicated in Fig. 4:, the slide is is pulled forward by the strap, whereby the slot Z is again relatively displaced with regard to the slot 7' and by this action the portion of the strap lying between the slots is caused to be gripped between the forward top edge of the slot in the plate 21 and the rear bottom edge of the slot in the slide 70, as can be clearly seen from Fig. A. In this manner the end or body of the strap is firmly gripped within the clip and it will be understood that the stronger the pull which is exerted on the strap in the direction of the arrow A the firmer is the grip produced thereby between the operative gripping edges of the fastener members. In order to release this grip it sufiices to move the strap h in a direction opposite to that of the arrow 4, whereby the slide 70 is moved rearwardly, and the edge of the strap can be readily withdrawn and re-inserted if desired.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in the shape of a. clip more particularly applicable for Watch bracelets it is obvious that it may be applied for other purposes.

lVhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A buckle comprising a member provided with a recess, a slideway, and opposed slots; a cross piece providing an opening to receive a strap; a plate slidable Within said slideway and within said strap opening, and provided with a slot; said slots adapted to register and receive a strap passing through said opening and into the recess; and said plate adapted to be moved to ofiset the slots and constrict said opening to secure the strap.

2. A buckle comprising a casing, a plate fixed thereinand providing therewith a .recess and a slideway, a slot in the casing; a cross piece providing an opening to receive a strap; said fixed plate providing a slot adjacent one end of said recess; a plate provided with a slot slidable in said slideway and within the opening provided bysaid cross piece; said slots adapted to register and receive a strap passing through said opening and into the recess; and said slidable plate adapted to be moved to ofiset the slots and constrict said opening to secure the strap.

In testimony whereof we have aiiixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GEORGE HARRIS. HARRY HARRIS. Witnesses O. J. WORTH, W. E. Rocnns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. a 

